Not a bug, not a flower...not the backyard...

Not a tree, not beadwork.....it's a Celia! Mini, of course, loved her on sight. Not as much as she loves Steve (her one true love) but she loves her a lot. Celia is my new neighbor and, thankfully, dog lover! She doesn't mind yappy little dogs (Rocky) or intrusive and yappy little dogs (you-know-who). She is owned by a Greyhound (George) who is yet to be photographed.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Celia, it has been a joy to have you here already!

Bugs

Hot and humid here in Southern Indiana. Not as hot as AZ but hotter than NY! CA sounds pretty good, Karen!

We have bugs. Lots of bugs. This let me know it was time for the obligatory flower and bug pictures! Here are some bugs that appreciate my flowers! They didn't appreciate me chasing them with a camera but bore it with dignity and the willingness to jump.

This fellow saw me coming - I liked his colors, he blended right in! And even has striped antennas.


He looks big but is really a little bitty guy!


This one was going about his business, enjoying his pollinating ways..


But he thought he would head out to a flower that was less photographed

Mini went for a 2 1/2 mile walk this morning....

And spent the rest of the day doing this!


That is a long walk when you are only 7 inches tall at the withers!

Pictures you only get in the hot humid summer!

It's been sunny, hot, humid, stormy...your basic Indiana summertime. Here are some obligatory flower pictures and backyard pictures - I love my flowers and backyard, enjoy logging their growth and beauty!

Daylillies in the backyard are doing great, got some pictures just after a rain. I was fighting off the ciggers, mosquitos, and no-see-ums but it was worth it.


Cone flowers are very pretty this year...it is hot and steamy in this picture, the humidity just hangs in the air.






Around to the front of the house and Mini's view of the world - she keeps a close eye on the neighborhood through the front storm door.


Lots of dog people in my neighborhood and lots of dog walkers. Mini makes sure I am alerted to every single event going on outside of her window. This brave fellow walks 3 dogs at once and is so very good and patient about it. He is actually an artist and sculptor who teaches in Guam for half of the year. Very cool guy!


These pictures will come in handy at 10 below 0 in January with snow and ice up to our knees....at least we can look and remember what will be back again in a couple of months!

Happy Independence Day to the Beady-Eyed Bunch!

And they call it....Puppy Love!

Mini's one true love sent her a special scarf for the 4th of July and is she ever proud! There must have been special scent messages from her man because she sniffed it all over and over again.




She showed off her new scarf to Rocky - I don't think he was impressed



Mini loves everyone....

She loves my little brother...


She loves Karen


She loves my Mother


But her one true love....is Cecily's husband, Steve! This picture says it all... we have just never been sure what 'all' it is saying!



Thank you, Steve!!!! Mini loves you!

Liz came a'visiting!

Liz drove down Saturday to visit and play. So very very good to see her! We did a lot - went to the Fair on the Square, visited Rose (Patty was away), tried to get into the Taste of Bloomington (lines way way too long), Rocky got to be Liz' favorite puppy (Rocky loves Liz)....but I only got these 3 little pictures darn it. We were two girls on the go all day.

First we cruised the Fair on the Square - an art fair on the grounds of the Monroe County courthouse that sits right in the middle of downtown and is referred to as the courthouse square. Then we went to the Bakehouse - part of the Scholar's Inn and is also on the Square. We sat at the window counter so we could people-watch. Very good sandwiches there and the most incredibly bakery. We were proud all day long that we didn't get any cookies or cupcakes or pie! All day we were proud.



As Liz has never been to Patty and Rose' farm we dropped by there then headed over to the Tibetan Center. Liz hasn't been there since the prayer wheels were installed so we paid a visit to them. Liz is taking the obligatory picture here....they are something to see. And we spun out blessings to the world.


Then BACK to the Square to check out the Taste of Bloomington but the line just to get in was way way too long.....so off to my favorite restaurant - the Turkish place....yum...we had the Pides! Yes - those are pink socks - isn't that just the best?!


I enjoyed every minute and it was so very nice to see Liz again! Thank you for coming down, my friend!

Cecily visited yesterday!

Just here overnight, working on bringing the Bhutan exhibit to Bloomingon.
I didn't get any pictures except this one but thought it was pretty nice so....here it is!

On the Clear Creek Trail

Mini and I went off for our walk - all the way down to the Clear Creek Trail, about 2.5 mile round trip.

We went past the canyon..Here it is looking back at it


This is where the trail we were on ends the the Clear Creek Trail begins. That is a 'yield' sign there. Not sure why.




We are at the bottom of the map - where the 3 trails intersect. The trail behind my house is the one that continues off of the bottom of the map - about 1 1/4 miles back down that trail is my house.


While this really shows the intersection of the trails and the roundabout - it could be a symbol for many other things, I think! Maybe a modern depiction of the yin and the yang! Or perhaps just a depiction of all the choices we have now. Or decisions to be made. Or maybe not.


A nice walking bridge just beyond the roundabout. There were some people at the other end so naturally Mini wanted to go visit with them.


Some of the field daylillies along the way. They are just starting to bloom.


I 'photoshopped' the heck out of this one - I thought I would just see how it looked and ended up really liking it!


Then back to the house to give Mini a bath, a very good bath. She likes plowing through the weeds - poison ivy and all! So my new ritual is to get the sink ready for her bath before we leave. Upon return home I yank off her little pink harness and put her directly in the sink, once she has been washed thoroughly I wash her harness and hang it to dry.....

All ready to go for next time! Princess Mini has had a good drink of water, a bath, a treat, and is now snoozing away the afternoon. what a life!

Scenic View

A very nice post birthday treat - out to lunch with Deb and George at the Scenic View restaurant. We sat on the patio which overlooks Lake Monroe.



Thank you, Deb, for the wonderful meal. Well - the wonderful meals because I finished the other half for lunch the next day! We were two happy diners, lounging on the patio for hours....watching the 'eagles' soring overhead!


Then over to the grounds of the Tibetan Center to walk off our lunch - this is a picture of one of the 4 'cabins' in the woods....little one room cabins with a kitchenette and shower - pretty nice!

I could be forced to stay here for awhile....

Very nice place to walk around, lots of work has been done on the trails and George has put in his share of time creating acres of trails.


A spin of the prayer wheels....sending out blessings to the world!




I thought I got a pretty good picture of the prayer wheels, the stupa, and the temple in the far background! If I must say so myself!




A very nice birthday lunch with good companions! Thank you!